Ladies smash five past Gills

West Ham United Ladies maintained their 100 per cent pre-season record with an impressive 5-0 victory over Gillingham Ladies on Wednesday night. 

Braces from both Emma Sherwood and Shirvae Edwards, along with a goal from Lily Mellors, mean that Marc Nurse’s side remain unbeaten in their preparations for the 2015/16 FA Women’s Premier League South season. 

Nurse made three changes to the team that defeated Hertford Town LFC 16-0 on Sunday. Winger Katie Bottom made way for Kerry Stimson, Aleah Headley replaced Kelley Blanchflower in central midfield, while Mellors came in for the unfortunate Paige Anderson-James, who picked up a knock in training.

It took the Hammers just three minutes to find their scoring touch again, when centre-back Danica Revell’s picked out Edwards in behind the home defence, who, after taking a couple of touches, finished confidently.

Nurse’s side shocked their Kent-based hosts by smashing in a second eight minutes later. This time, scorer turned provider, as Edwards fed Sherwood, who fired home from 18 yards via the right-hand post.

With half an hour gone, Gillingham finally started to find their feet. However, one misplaced pass in the home defence gifted possession to Mellors, who looked up and fired straight into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

After half time, the Hammers pushed to increase their lead and Edwards, who has recently been called up to represent Grenada at international level, claimed her second of the game when she controlled in the box and slid it through the goalkeeper’s legs.

There was still plenty of time for the Hammers to add a fifth, when Sherwood was unmarked in the box and the quickest to react when the home goalkeeper spilled a shot from distance.

West Ham Ladies host Shanklin LFC from the Isle of Wight in their final pre-season fixture on Sunday 9 August. Kick-off at AFC Hornchurch’s Bridge Avenue Stadium is at 2pm.

The Hammers then kick-off their FA Women’s Premier League South season away to Coventry United on Sunday 16 August.

West Ham United Ladies: Parlane, Revell, Little (c), Trialist, Stimson, Bowers, Headley, Xidhas, Sherwood, Edwards, Mellors. Subs used: Taylor, Adeyemo, Gullefer, Bottom.